The huge difference between civilians and police/soldiers is that the trained "pros" have their asses covered by law. The civilians don't. If you shoot the wrong person for whatever reason as a civilian, you will at best have your ass sued off and at worst you will go to jail
Originally Posted by Munchmasterman
"Munch" you might want to "revisit" this statement ... police are covered by the same law of self-defense that civilians are required to follow, and the taking of a life (or shooting another person) by police who ought not to have been shot is considered a "seizing" by the SCOTUS and when it is unreasonable, which it would be if incorrect, then the police officer is liable civilly, and in some instances depending upon the facts the police officer's agency can also be lilable to the citizen or his or her heirs/dependants.
Officers face state prosecution or Federal prosecution, if not both, for wrongful deaths or wrongful shootings.
As for training, I will agree that LE customarily has far more training, not only from a skill perspective, but also from a perspective of informing them about tactics and choices to minimize "collateral damage" and maximize success in the confrontation with a firearm..... which does not necessarily mean discharging the firearm, which is the last step in the "use of force continuum," and disreably a last resort ... which some civilians are unable to comprehend .... military and police training involving handguns is somewhat different and the environment in which police operate is also different for the most part, although as servicemembers get more urban and building entry training there will be similitarities with different "rules of engagement" as to potential liability and a different "code" under which they operate.
example:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/s...hington-122412
we may never read or hear under what circumstances this 19-year-old was carrying a weapon to a bar party or why, but IMO that is a result of the poor judgment that is too frequently exercised by immature and irresponsible people, which cannot be "tested" or even "discovered" when making the decision to hand someone a weapon.
A law controlling handguns didn't help the dead guy or the wounded one.